04 July 2016

Reports were still a bit sketchy, but it was confirmed that Blackwater forward and former second-round pick of the Meralco Bolts Gilbert Bulawan passed away last Sunday (3 July) after collapsing during team practice. He was just 29.

The former San Sebastian Stag center reportedly collapsed in the arms of teammate Reil Cervantes during practice. It was suspected that Bulawan suffered a massive cardiac arrest.

"We are saddened to hear of the passing of one of our beloved players and a member of our PBA family, Gilbert Bulawan," PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa said in a statement.

The death, believed to be the first by a player in a PBA team's active roster, came as a complete shock to people close to the young player and his family since he has no known ailment.

He was also the first known PBA player to die in practice or an actual game.

Bulawan was a member of the Stag team that won the NCAA men’s basketball championship in 2009 where he teamed up with Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang, Ronald Pascual, Pamboy Raymundo, among others.

After he was pick in 2011, Bulawan spent 2 years with the Bolts before was traded to Barako Bull Energy Cola from Meralco in a three-team trade that sent Jared Dillinger and Don Allado to Meralco. Later in the 2014 season, Bulawan was one of the players dropped by Barako, allowing him to join the 2014 PBA Expansion Draft, where he was picked 15th by Blackwater.

Bulawan spent his best productive years with Meralco where he averaged 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds.

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PBA Advisory

2017 Commissioner's Cup Format

The tournament allows teams to hire foreign players or imports with a height limit of 6-foot-10.

The top 2 teams will earn twice-to-beat edges over Nos. 7 and 8 while the No. 3 against No. 6 and No. 4 versus No. 5 pairing will be a best-of-three affair in the quarterfinals.

The semifinal stage will have a pair of best-of-five matches and the finals will be a race-to-four affair.

Gilas Pilipinas

Manila will host one of the three tournaments in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Philippine national men’s basketball team will try to pull off massive upsets against France, New Zealand, Canada, Turkey and Senegal in the competition slated on July 5 to July 10 at Mall of Asia Arena.

A total of 18 teams will participate in the three-nation event whose champions will book tickets to the 2016 Rio Olympics.